Winch



J. H. ELLIS March 27, 1962 WINCH 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 10, 1958 JOHN H. ELL/5 INVENTOR.

J. H. ELLIS WINCH 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 10, 1958 N g Q? Q I 3 0 59 wm 3. W\\ mm m U HH l l Hl i lhl In I W QQQ wwmmflm mm MW I m9 mw mm m v9 m9 mm vw km W K m: vmnm mm S Q E m6 .& mm 6 vn mm R mm R mv mm 9 I 1 mm mm mm.

mm N Em m N M J J.v H. ELLIS WINCH 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 10, 1958 FIG. 3.

gg I. I h== Ill H 8 II D 7 n 5 4. 4 llll. 2 3 4 f d 7 4 I I I I 1 I I I l ll 5 m a m 4 a m 5 4 m Q 4 9 2 6 7 NH 8 UMP. 2/ \2 JOHN H ELL/3 INVENTOR.

United States Patent ()fifice 3,027,141 Patented Mar. 27, 1962 3,027,141 WINCH John H. Ellis, 6 Main St, Warrensburg, N.Y., assignor of fifty percent to Norman S. Blodgett, Westboro, Mass. Filed Feb. 10, 1958, Ser. No. 714,353 2 Claims. (Cl. 254-166) This invention relates generally to a winch and more particularly to apparatus for placing a cable in tension by winding it on a drum.

In the past, it has been common practice to use a winch at one end of a tractor to coil a cable having a load at its other end. The cable may be used to drag a log through the woods, in which case the tractor is usually of the crawler type. The cable may, of course, pass through a block and tackle forming part of a derrick or the like. In any case, these winches have always been fixed to the tractor with the axis of rotation in a permanent position relative to the tractor. This lim its the use of the winch considerably and has many undesirable features. For one thing, it is not always possible to have the line of action of the cable at a right angle to the axis of the drum; when the cable enters the drum at any angle other than the perpendicular, it is not only diflicult to make it coil properly, but there is considerable wear on the cable and winch. These and other difficulties experienced with the prior art devices have been obviated in a novel manner by the present invention.

It is, therefore, an outstanding object of the present invention to provide a winch which may be readily attached and detached from a vehicle; and which is readily changed from one vehicle to another or readily removed from a given vehicle for replacement by another attachment.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a winch which is completely hydraulically driven and which may be readily and simply attached to the usual hydraulic system of the vehicle.

It is a still further object of the instant invention to provide a winch whose drum axis may be adjusted by means of a control at the operators station to permit the cable line to be maintained at right angles to the drum axis.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a winch of completely hydraulic design, which is simple to mount and is quickly and easily removed from its small sub-base; it can be used on more than one machine and can be temporarily mounted in various places.

It is another object of this invention to provide a winch which is simple to maintain, which is ruggedly constructed, and which will give a long life of useful service.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a Winch which can be clutched by the vehicle driver; which remains truly free-spooling when the clutch is disengaged; and in which means is provided to insure simple clutch re-engagement when desired.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a winch which can be fully controlled by the vehicle driver, whose operating station may be as remote from the part of the machine on which the winch is mounted as hydraulic conduits can be feasibly extended.

It is another object of this invention to provide a winch whose angularity can be readily adjusted relative to the vehicle on which it is mounted, thus permitting a straight line pull of the cable under the drum when the load lies at an angle to the tractor, thus saving cable, saving the winch, and saving time in positioning the tractor; this angling feature also permits the tractor to haul a load after winching is stopped with the cable pull point centered in the rear of the tractor to facilitate pulling and steering, it permits the drum to be used for swinging to aid steered turns, it permits the drum to be swung to line up the winch with an angled logging arch; furthermore, the angling feature can be used as a reeling device to permit tight wrapping of the cable on the drum in smooth layers, and it can be used when moving the tractor in yaw to aid it in towing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a winch which remains truly free-spooling whenever it is declutched, due in part to a design which obviates the need for either brakes or clutches which develop dragging characteristics in use and also due in part to the avoidance of winch-drum wear and consequent deformation, causing the drum to rub on the frame, and caused by frequent reeling of cable attached to loads, wherein the cable is not perpendicular to the drum axis.

With these and other objects in view as will be apparout to those skilled in the art, the invention resides in the combination of parts set forth in the specification and covered by the claims appended hereto.

The character of the invention, however, may be best understood by reference to certain of its structural forms as illustrated by the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a crawler-type tractor carrying a winch constructed according to the principles of the present invention,

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view of the winch taken on the line II-II of FIGURE 3,

FIGURE 3 is a view of the winch taken on the line III-III of FIGURE 2, and

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view of a portion of the invention taken on the line IV--IV of FIGURE 2.

In this specification the expressions longitudinal, transverse, and similar expressions refer to the corresponding directions as they are used as they relate to the vehicle to which the winch is attached.

Referring first to FIGURE 1, wherein are best shown the general features of the invention, the winch indicated, generally by the reference numeral It is shown attached to the rear of a crawler type tractor 11 having a hydraulically-actuated loader 12 at its forward end. The winch is shown in use in winding one end of a cable 13 to the other end of which is attached a load, not shown. It can be seen that the tractor 11 is provided with a substantial vertical transverse surface 14 to which the winch It} is attached. The surface 14 forms part of the frame of the tractor and it will be appreciated that such a fixed surface is available on almost any vehicle to which it may be desired to attach the winch.

As is generally evident in FIGURE 1 and as is more specifically shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, the winch 10 consists of a drum 15, mounted in a frame 16 which in turn is pivotally attached to a base 17. The base in turn is bolted to the aforementioned vertical surface 14- of the tractor 11. Also attached to the frame 16 is a gear box 18 on the upper portion of which is attached a hydraulic rotary positive-displacement motor 19 of the wellknown type. Connected between the base 17 and the frame 16 is a hydraulic linear actuator 21 of the cylinder-and-piston type. Suitable hydraulic conduits 22 and 23 are connected to the actuator 21 and similar pair of hydraulic conduits 24 and 25 are connected to the motor 19. The hydraulic conduits 22, 23, 24 and 25 are suitably connected through appropriate valves and the like, not shown, to the hydraulic system of the tractor 11, which hydraulic system also serves the loader 12.

The base 17 is a weldment made up of a forward plate 26 which is adapted to be attached to the surface 14 of the tractor 11 by means of bolts 27 and 28 and a rearward plate 29 which is held in spaced, parallel relationship to the forward plate byan intermediate member 31. Extending from the rearward plate 29 in upper and lower positions respectively are hinge plates 32 and 33, each of 3 which is provided with a vertical aperture 35 extending therethrough. Extending from the side of the base 17 midway between the top and the bottom is an ear 34- which is provided at its outer extremity with an aperture 36 which extends vertically therethrough.

The frame 16 is of a generally U-shaped cross-sectional form having a transverse body member 37 from which extend in the rearward direction side plates 38 and 39 in spaced parallel relationship. The body member 37 is provided with a vertical forward surface 41 from which extend hinge plates 42, 43, 44, and 45. These hinge plates are adapted to embrace the hinge plates 32 and 33 of the base 17. Furthermore, they are provided with apertures which align themselves with the apertures 35 of the hinge plates 32 and 33. Suitable pins 46 and 47 extend through the aligned apertures and hold the hinge plates in operative relationship. The side plate 38 of the frame 16 is provided with a bore 48 in which is carried a cylindrical extension 49 of a cover 51. The cover is suitably bolted to the side plate 16. Attached to the cover 51 is an ear 52 having a vertical aperture 53 therethrough. The linear actuator 21 is provided with a piston rod 54 having an enlarged outer end provided with an aperture which is aligned with the aperture 53 in the ear 52. A suitable pin 55 joins the two. The linear actuator is also provided with a cylinder 56 having an ear 57 at the end opposite the piston rod 54.

This ear is provided with an aperture adapted to be aligned with the aperture 36 of the ear 34 and a suitable fastener 58 extends therethrough to hold the two in operative relationship.

The cover 51 is provided with a central bore 59 which in turn is provided with a cylindrical counter bore 61. Residing in the counter bore 61 is a flange 62 of the housing of a roller bearing 63. The side plate 39 of the frame 16 is provided with a bore 64 which is aligned with the bore 59 of the cover 51 and which carries the housing of a roller bearing 65. The roller bearings 63 and 65 carry a shaft 66 to which is fastened to the drum by means of a key 67.

The drum 15 consists of a main body 68 having a gen erally cylindrical outer surface and flanges 69 and 71. The flange 69 resides in the bore 48 in the side plate 38 of the frame 16. The outer edge of the side plate 38 is provided with a curved surface 72 which merges with the inner surface of the flange 69 so that two present a single unbroken surface. The flange 71 resides in an annular recess 73 formed in the inwardly directed side of the side plate 39 and the side plate is provided with a curved surface 74 which merges with the inwardly directed surface of the flange 71 and forms therewith a continuous unbroken surface. The main body 68 of the drum 15 is provided with an enlarged cylindrical portion 75 and a cored socket 76 for receiving the end ferrule of the cable 13.

The outer surface of the side plate 39 is provided with a recess 77 in which is mounted the inner member 78 of the gear box 18. The outer member 79 is suitably fastened to the inner member to define a box-like inner recess. The inner member 78 is provided with tube-like protuberance 81 having a counter bore 82 in which is mounted a roller bearing 83. A similar tube-like protuberance 84 extends from the outer member 79 in line with and opposd to the protubance 81. The protuberance 84 is provided with a counter bore 85 in which is mounted a roller bearing 86. Situated between the protuberances 81 and 82 is a worm gear 87 having a central hub 88 by which it is mounted in the roller bearings 83 and 86. The worm gear 87 is provided with a central bore 89 in which is mounted a stub shaft 91, the gear and shaft being suitably keyed together. The bearings, the gear and the stub shaft are aligned with the shaft 66 of the drum. On the end of the stub shaft 91 which is directed toward the drum is mounted the female portion 92 of a tooth-type 4 clutch 93. The male portion 94 is fastened to the end of the shaft 66.

A suitable worm 95 is mounted in bearings so as to underlie the worm gear 87 One end of the worm extends from the gear box 18 and has attached thereto a sprocket 96. The sprocket resides in a sprocket box 97 having a cover 98. .As is evident in FIGURE 3, the sprocket box 97 extends upwardly to the same height as the motor 19 and a shaft 99 of the motor 19 extends into the sprocket box and has attached thereto a sprocket 101. The sprocket 101 and the sprocket 96 are joined in driving relationship by a chain 102.

At the end of the stub shaft 91 opposite the clutch 93 is suitably fastened an extension shaft 103 which extends through the outer wall of the outer member 79 and acts as the plunger member of a valve 104. The valve 104 consists of a main body 105 through which extends a bore 106 in which the shaft 103 resides. The shaft 103 is formed with an annular groove 107 in the central portion thereof. An inlet passage 108 enters one side of the main body 105 and an outlet passage 109 is formed at the other side; particular reference should be made to FIGURE 4. The inlet passage and the outlet passage are joined by a configured passage 111 which extends through the bore 106 in which the shaft 103 resides. An adjusting screw 112 enters the passage 111 and serves to adjust the cross sectional area thereof. From an observation of FIGURE 2 it can be seen that, when the teeth of the clutch 93 are disengaged, the annular groove 107 and the shaft 103 reside within the passage 1111, giving communication between the inlet passage 108 and the outlet passage 109. When, however, the teeth are in engagement the shaft 103 is in a left position lying within the bore 106 but the annular groove 107 is outside of the passage 111 so that the valve is effectively shut off. The inlet passage 108 of the valve is connected through a T-fit-ting 113 to the conduit 24 carrying hydraulic fluid to the motor 19, while the outlet passage 109 is connected through a T-fitting 114 to the conduit 25 carrying hydraulic fluid away from the motor 19. The valve, therefore, acts as a by-pass between the two conduits when it is open.

The outer end of the shaft 103 is formed with a clevis which is connected through a pin 115 to one end of a lever 116. The intermediate portion of the lever is pivotally attached by a pin 117 to an ear 11 8 extending from the main body 105 of the valve 104. The other end of the lever 116 is connected through a hydraulic cylinder 121 to the gear box. Hydraulic fluid flows to and from the cylinder 121 through conduit-s 122 and 123, these conduits being connected to the hydraulic system of the vehicle through valving apparatus adjacent the operator.

The operation of the winch of the invention will now be readily understood in view of the above description. To begin with, it will be clear that the frame 16 carrying the drum 15 and the gear box 18 may be rotated about a vertical axis defined by the aperture 35 and the pins 46 and 47. The angularity at which the winch resides with respect to the base 17 and the tractor 11 is determined by the setting of the hydraulic linear actuator 21. This in turn is determined by the driver who has available suitable valving apparatus controlling the flow of hydraulic fluid to and from the cylinder 56 through the conduits 22 and 23. This type of control of a hydraulic cylinder is well known in the art and further amplification is not necessary in the present case. The valving apparatus also provides for control of flow to the motor 19 by way of the valve 104. Once the setting of the drum has been established, suitable settings of the valving apparatus will provide for the locking of the fluid within the actuator 21 so that it acts as a rigid member. During the operation of the winch, the motor 19 will receive fluid continuously from the conduit 24, assuming that the operator has manipulated the valving apparatus on the vehicle properly, and return it to the tractor pump through the conduit 25. The motor 19 runs continuously when the operator thus causes flow. However, the valve 184 furnishes a by-pass between the incoming and the outgoing conduits and, when the valve 1114 is opened only a small amount of fluid passes through the motor 19. This amount of fluid depends upon the setting of the screw 112 of the valve. Therefore, when the valve 194 is open, the motor rotates at slow speed and reduced torque. When, however, the valve 104 is closed, the motor 19 revolves at its rated speed and torque. The motor 19, of course, serves to drive the drum 15 by rotating the shaft 99 and causing power to flow from the sprockets 101 through the chain 102 to the sprocket 96 and from the sprocket 96 through the worm 95 to the worm gear 87. Rotation of the Worm gear 87 operates through the stub shaft 91 and the clutch 93, if it is in engaged condition, to drive the shaft 66 to which the drum 15 is keyed. However, the apparatus, as it is shown in FIGURE 2, is in an inoperative condition with the shaft 103 drawn to the right. In this condition a free passage is provided from the conduit 24 to the conduit 25 through the inlet passage 108, the configurated passage 111, the annular groove 107 of the shaft 1113 and the outlet passage 109. The motor 19, therefore, is revolving at a slow speed and low torque depending upon the setting of the screw 112 and serves to rotate the worm gear 87 and the female portion of the clutch 93 slowly and gently. When the operator desires to engage and drive the drum he activates the cylinder 121 to move the shaft 103 to the left. Since the female portion 92 of the clutch 93 is revolving at slow speed, the teeth of the clutch under the pressure of the operator will engage and move to operative engaging relationship. Without this slight movement of the female portion it would be difiicult to engage the teeth of the clutch. The movement of the shaft 103 to the left also causes the annular groove 107 to reside outside the configured passage 111 of the valve 104 so that no by-pass of fluid from the conduit 24 to the conduit 25 takes place and the motor 19 rotates at its high speed and full power. It can be seen then that the drum 15 when the clutch 93 is not engaged is free to revolve in the roller bearings 63 and 65. It will be appreciated that the operator can manipulate his valving apparatus on the vehicle so as to cause the motor 19 to rotate in either direction. Furthermore, when the motor is not revolving, the valving apparatus will lock the hydraulic system, so that the motor cannot revolve, thus acting to lock the drum.

It can be seen then that the present winch provides a completely hydraulically-driven winch which may be readily connected into the hydraulic system of the standard tractor. This winch is simple to mount and is quickly and easily removed from its base by the removal of the pins 58, 46 and 47, leaving the base behind on the vehicle. The basic winch unit may be used on more than one machine or vehicle by providing a plurality of the bases 17 to which it may be attached. There is no reason, of course, why the basic winch unit cannot be mounted in various places where a winch would not normally be provided. Furthermore, the unit is simple to maintain and the elements which might be subject to wear are readily removed; for instance, the gear box 18 is readily removed from the frame 16 and the drum may be readily removed by removing the cover 51 from the left side of the frame. The sprockets 96 and 101 and the chain 102 are readily accessible through the cover 98. The fact that the winch angle may be changed at will permits the cable to be pulled onto the drum at a right angle to the axis of the drum at all times. This has the effect of preventing wear on the cable, preventing wear on the drum and, also, saves considerable positioning of the tractor proper which, in terms of operating factors, saves time and fuel. Furthermore, in such an operation as dragging logs through the woods it is possible to assure that the cable pull-point is centered in the rear of the tractor to facilitate pulling and steering. In addition, in pulling such a load along a curved or winding road, changing the angle of the drum during turning will permit steered turns and also facilitate the handling of the load. In winding the cable on the drum, it is clear that being able to vary the angle during the winding will permit the cable to be laid on the drum in smooth layers. It should be noted that the use of a positivedisplacement motor permits locking of the drum without the necessity of a separate braking means and, furthermore, when, the drum is being brought to a stop, manipulation of the valving apparatus on the vehicle will permit the operator to use this motor as a. brake. The removal from the system of the usual friction brakes also obviates the difiiculties usually attendant upon the use of such brakes.

It is obvious that minor changes may be made in the form and construction of the invention without departing from the material spirit thereof. It is not, however, desired to confine the invention to the exact form herein shown and described, but it is desired to include all such as properly come within the scope claimed.

The invention having been thus described, what is new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A winch for use with a vehicle comprising a base adapted to be fastened to the vehicle and having a substantial plane vertical surface adapted to face rearwardly of the vehicle, a frame connected to the base rearwardly of the said vertical surface for movement about a vertical pivot, a cable drum rotatably mounted in the frame for rotation about a horizontal axis parallel to and spaced from the said surface of the base, an actuator for moving the frame about the said vertical pivot, a gear box mounted on the frame, and a motor mounted on the gear box, the said vertical pivot being located between the axis of the drum and the said surface of the base and being spaced a considerable distance from the said drum axis.

2. A winch for use with a vehicle comprising a base adapted to be fastened to the vehicle and having a substantial plane vertical surface adapted to face rearwardly of the vehicle, a frame connected to the base rearwardly of the said vertical surface for movement about a vertical pivot, a cable drum rotatably mounted in the frame for rotation about a horizontal axis spaced from the said surface of the base, a linear hydraulic cylinder for moving the frame about the pivot, a gear box mounted on the frame, and a hydraulic motor mounted on the gear box, the gear box having an input shaft connected to the motor and an output shaft connected to the drum for the rotation of the drum, the said vertical pivot being located between the axis of the drum and the said surface of the base and being spaced a considerable distance from the said drum axis.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,535,221 Hansen Apr. 28, 1925 2,405,981 Schield Aug. 20, 1946 2,477,064 Kuert July 26, 1949 2,528,985 Wunsch Nov. 7, 1950 2,567,526 Nitkey Sept. 11, 1951 2,635,851 Maier Apr. 21, 1953 2,645,455 Rowe July 14, 1953 2,676,785 Mork Apr. 27, 1954 2,903,142 Wills Sept. 8, 1959 

